WINDSCREEN INSURANCE DISCS

INSURANCE discs will not be needed on vehicles until 2009, the Home Department has confirmed.

It is fielding calls from concerned islanders who are worried that, if they go away over Christmas, they will be breaking the law on their return if they drive without a disc on the windscreen.

Motor tax is being scrapped from the New Year.

A Home Department spokesman said, “Motorists taking their vehicles out of the Island over the Christmas period and into the New Year should not worry that their tax disc will expire at the end of 2007. They should however, ensure that they are in possession of a valid driving licence and insurance which can be produced to the authorities if they are asked to do so.”

It is expected that the new discs, which are being printed on special security marked paper, will be available for insurers to issue from about March 2008.

Displaying such a disc will not become compulsory until amendments to the law come into force in 2009, but motorists are being encouraged to display discs as and when they receive them from their insurer.

The Department has kept all insurance companies informed about the change.

For a list of licensed motor insurers and to obtain an application form to become licensed please follow the below link to the Guernsey Financial Services Commission website :-

http://www.gfsc.gg/content.asp?pageID=441&menuOpen=2&submenuOpen=2.1

NOTE TO EDITORS

The States approved amendments to the Road Traffic (Compulsory Third Party Insurance) (Guernsey) Law, 1936, which enables the introduction of windscreen discs, in September 2007. Similar legislation has been approved in Alderney.

The necessary legislative amendments are being drafted and it is intended that the new system will commence on 1 January 2009.

For further information, please contact Mark Lempriere, on 717340